% Never use a mobile phone! Your freedom depends on it
% Leah Rowe
% 2019-04-28

For background on my underlying philosophy in this regard, read the *Matrix*
article on the hidden wiki in Tor Browser. It's a very good read. You should,
for your own sake, escape the Matrix and resist it with everything that you have.

NOTE TO SELF: I should also write an article about resisting censorship, surveillance
etc.

The TL;DR if you didn't follow the above advice:

- The world we live in is extremely monitored, regulated and censored by
  beaurecrats (can't spell that. can't be assed to check spelling).
- Phones contain non-free software in them, even if they have Replicant.
  Specifically, the modem firmware which is remotely updateable by the
  hardware manufacturer.
- Mobile phones have cameras, microphones and these days high-speed 3G/4G and
  really insanely low power usage, so they could very easily be used by the
  Government (or other hostile entity - yes, all governments are hostile).
- Basically, mobile phones are like the Telescreens in 1984 by George Orwell

Mobile phones are *the* ultimate control device used by the Matrix to direct its
subjects. You should get rid of your phone immediately. DO IT RIGHT NOW.

Some quick tips on how to not own  a mobile phone:

- Walk to the shops. Don't call a taxi :) (not doing so is only excusable if you
  are in some way disabled so as to be unable to do this)
- Use email, IRC, Tox and GNU Ring to talk to people!
- Use a landline! (but caution: landline phones can record you too. Make sure
  it's a corded one, not wireless, and that it doesn't have any batteries.
  Leave it unplugged unless you need to make a call, and also leave it powered
  off)
- Alternatively to landline, use a SIP+PBX setup, e.g. Asterisk server. There are
  also providers. HOWEVER BE WARNED: there are zero libre handsets out there, so
  those could be bugged too. However, you can use linphone, ekiga or GNU Ring
  on your computer, with a microphone and headphones connected. Like in a call
  centre.
- Don't rely on GPS to find your way to somewhere. Buy a map! Plan your journey!
- For music, use a standalone music player, preferably one without internet
  on it (radio is fine, so long as it only receives signals but doesn't send
  any). There exist many players out there that can run a free bootloader and/or
  OS. *Rockbox* is a decent OS for such music players, which you could install.
- If people need to contact you, tell them to email you or maybe even knock on
  your door or come find you.
- Plan outings a day in advance, so that real-time communication is not required.

Basically, live the way your parents lived. Actually, nowadays we live in a world
where some parents actually used mobile phones during their upbringing, so to
be careful I will say grandparents instead of parents, or basically anyone who
is at least 50 years old at this present time and date of 2019-05-08.

I don't have one :) I don't need one!

As of 8 May 2019, I have once again become phoneless after a brief (3 year)
lapse of judgement.

I grew up without mobile phones (hell, I grew up *without internet*. I first
got online in my teen years). I know the dewey decimal system used in libraries.
I can memorize a phone number. I maintain eye contact when talking to you. Even
when I used a mobile phone for a brief few years, I never used it the way most
people do; I only used it in emergencies, or basically my mother / roommate would
call me. or a supplier would text me, etc (business partner). Well, all I need
is email.

Here is my history of mobile phone usage:

- Up until age 12: No mobile phone at all
- 12-16 had a Nokia 3210 brick. I used it to play *Snake*, mostly. I didn't use
  it for phone calls. I also used it as an alarm clock.
- 16-20 had a slightly less-bricky Nokia phone. It had *Snake II*
- 20-24: **No mobile phone**
- 24-27: Mother nagged me into getting a phone so she could text me. I moved out
  of home when I was 24.
- 27+: No mobile phone again :)

During the last few years I used an Android phone. I barely knew how to use
Android (I still don't). Well, I mainly used it just for phone calls, but like,
I didn't even use basic features like the address book most of the time. I just
remembered numbers in my head. I'm good at remembering things. I just look at a
photograph in my head, which I shot when I first read the number. It's always
there and it never fades.

Honestly, mobile phones are pointless

As of 8 May 2019 I am without a mobile phone. And honestly? I don't care, since
I barely used my phone anyway... you can always email me. Or idk, if you know me
you could knock on my door and come in for a cup of tea? Not that I personally
drink tea. I could also serve coffee, or water.

Now I am untraceable again, for the most part. You cannot reach me unless I want
you to reach me. This is exactly how I like it. I hate talking on the phone.
